by Sarah Noffke
“Yes,” Mae Ling had declared with confidence, “you definitely won’t understand for quite some time, but that still means you must follow my directions to the letter. The Gullington will experience threats, but that shouldn’t be your concern. Stay and defend it, and things will get worse. Instead, you need to go and get the antidote to fix the problems. Never band-aid them.”
Sophia gulped and fisted her hands. She pressed her lips together, unable to believe what she was about to do. With her mind, she reached out to her dragon.
Lunis, are you there? she asked.
Soph, you’re back, he said, relief flooding his voice.
What’s going on? she asked, wanting to rush but staying still.
In her head, she felt Lunis’ confusion. He didn’t know why she wasn’t helping, but it wouldn’t be long before she filled in all the gaps for him. He’d been busy fighting and hadn’t heard her conversation with Mae Ling and preoccupied with the fight he hadn’t caught up on her thoughts.
There are thieves, he explained. They crossed through the Barrier a bit ago and are hunting for something. We’re guessing the eggs.
Oh no, Sophia screamed in her mind.
Don’t worry, he soothed. Hiker and Bell won’t move from the entrance to the Nest. They are strong. Stronger than ever before. It will take a great force to get through.
And the others? she questioned.
They are putting up a good fight, but I will be honest, he said and paused, reluctance in his voice. Whoever this is that came after us, they were ready. They have numbers and strength. I think they’ve been waiting for an opportunity.
I think they made their opportunity, Sophia confessed. I don’t know how, but I’m certain they poisoned Quiet. I don’t know how they brought down the Barrier or hurt the Gullington.
I’m not sure either, Lunis agreed. There’s something mysterious at play here none of us can see. The dragons are clear on that one.
Okay, well, I need you to come to me, Sophia requested.
So I can bring you to the fight? he inquired.
Sophia shook her head, already regretting what she had to say, but knowing she had to. No, you and I must go.
What do you mean? he asked, his voice screaming with disbelief.
I know it sounds crazy, but Mae Ling said we can’t stay and fight, she explained. We have to go and get an antidote for Quiet.
Lunis focused on her thoughts for a moment, and it all became clear.
Things were so much easier when someone could spy your thoughts, Sophia reflected.
I’ll be right there, Lunis stated. I just need to relay the information to the others so they don’t worry.
Sophia agreed with a nod. She would have to wait on the other side of the Expanse, forced to watch the streaks of fire and outlines of fighting figures instead of helping. It all seemed so wrong and made her feel like a coward. She reminded herself she was leaving to seek another solution. The wind cut through her and reminded her there were other things her heart was wrestling with she had to deal with.
“You’re leaving,” Wilder said at Sophia’s back. A rush of wind chilled her to the bone again. This time when she felt that familiar rush, she knew it was caused by the sweeping motion of a dragon’s wings.
She turned to find Wilder sliding off his dragon, Simi, and hurrying over to her.
“I didn’t have time to get all the details, but Lunis told Simi you’re going to get an antidote for Quiet,” he explained as he rushed over only to stop inches away. His hands reached out but halted short of touching her.
Sophia nodded. “I’ve learned there’s more treachery hurting the Dragon Elite than just these invaders. I need to follow this lead and get the antidote, or Quiet will suffer.” She held out the piece of paper Mae Ling had given her.
Wilder’s eyes fell to it, hesitation heavy in his eyes. “I’ll go with you. We can do it faster together than if you go alone.”
Sophia felt the warmth of her dragon when he landed at her back, the way it always felt when Lunis was near.
She backed up and shook her head. “No, you should stay here and guard the Gullington. Nothing can happen to those dragon eggs.”
Wilder made up the distance, this time reaching for Sophia and grabbing her hand.
She sucked in a breath and looked up at his wide eyes.
“But what about you?” he asked. “Where are you going? How long will you be?”
She shook her head. “I really don’t know. I only know I have to do this, or I’d stay. You have to know, if I had that option, I wouldn’t leave you or the Gullington.”
He didn’t look convinced. She worried he thought she was a coward by running away, but he surprised her by taking a step backward and releasing her hand.
“Soph, I don’t know what’s going on, but if you have to go, you have my full support.” He glanced at Lunis. “You two stay safe and return to us as quickly as you can.”
Sophia didn’t say another word because anything she could say seemed cheap. Instead, she turned and ran for her dragon, jumped onto his outstretched wing, and slid into the saddle. Giving Wilder one last look before grabbing the reins and taking off into the air, she flew straight out of the Barrier and away from the only place she’d felt at home. She prayed it would stay safe until she returned, hopefully with a way to save its groundskeeper.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ant-freaking-arctica. That’s where Mae Ling had sent Sophia and Lunis, and it was cold. Really freaking cold. The sun was up, which was something at least, providing them with light to see their surroundings, which were unsurprisingly not that diverse. It consisted of snow, ice, glaciers, freezing cold water, and a clear blue sky.
I guess it makes sense this is where an ice queen would live, Lunis reasoned, landing in the snow and looking out at the miles of white.
It was so bright it made Sophia’s eyes water, and the air was so biting it hurt her bones.
“I still don’t understand what this queen rules over,” Sophia mused, looking around and wondering where the fortress was. She should have asked Mae Ling more questions, not that there had been time for such things.
Snow, Lunis offered. Maybe cold. Or silence.
That piqued Sophia’s interest. “Actually, that’s what Mae Ling said when I asked her how to help Quiet. She said I should go to a place that’s plentiful with silence.”
Lunis glanced around at a iceberg peacefully floating in the distance on the blue water and the miles of ice that stretched out around them. I think this is the quietest place I’ve ever heard of.
“Ha-ha,” Sophia said and shook her head at her dragon. “That was by far the worst joke you’ve ever made.”
Really? The worst? he questioned. I’m sure I can beat that. I’ll borrow one of your sister’s jokes.
“Hey,” Sophia argued. “Liv’s jokes are funny.”
They are punny, which counts for negative credit, he stated.
“You know, at some point, you two are going to have to try and get along.”
Why? he asked his tone serious.
“For my sake,” she begged.
Why else.
She pursed her lips at him and slid off his back.
What? Lunis questioned. I need a little extra motivation is all. I mean, I want to do things for you like save your life and help you fight battles and save people. But do I really have to get along with your sister? She calls me Stanley and Clifford and treats me like I’m a big dog.
“You sort of are,” Sophia said with a laugh.
It’s true, but don’t ever tell her that, Lunis teased, joining in her laughter.
It felt wrong they were having a good banter when she knew her friends were battling mysterious bad guys at the Gullington. She reasoned they were bolstering their spirits before the battle began.
Mae Ling had said they’d have to fight villains and win the queen’s allegiance to get the antidote. There were still so many questions. Who was this queen, and why was
she in the middle of a place uninhabitable to most? What did she rule over? What was this antidote?
Maybe it’s a piece of a glacier? Lunis reasoned.
“Well, I’m not sure that will work since I’ve got to get it back to the Gullington.”
Yeah, and then there’s the question of who poisoned Quiet, Lunis added seriously.
“I still feel like I should be fixing the Castle.” Sophia had the strongest urge to abandon the mission and go on her way, but that wasn’t what her instinct told her. Wanting to run away came from the fear in the pit of her stomach. Between instinct and fear, she knew which one to trust. Always her instinct.
No, Mama Jamba had told her to go to Mae Ling rather than fight, and her fairy godmother had told her to find this ice queen rather than fight. That was what she was going to do.
“Okay, which way do you think is the castle?” Sophia asked and looked around. “The directions said something about finding a staircase of sorts.”
Well, if I was a queen with an ice fortress, I’d definitely enchant it so others couldn’t find me, Lunis rationalized.
“Good point,” Sophia agreed. “So how do we pull down the glamour and knock at the drawbridge or whatever the ice lady has blocking the courtyard?”
I’m not sure, but look at that. Lunis indicated something in front of them with his head.
Having to squint from the brightness combined with the angle of the sun directly in front of them, Sophia glanced in the direction he had pointed out. She couldn’t figure out what he was referring to until she noticed a black shape. It was gliding across the ice and then plopped into the crystal blue waters with a splash.
Sophia yanked Inexorabilis from its sheath to be prepared for whatever danger they were about to face. A brief look at Lunis told her whatever it was wasn’t a threat. He acted like a puppy dog about to charge, his tongue hanging slightly out of his mouth, and his blue eyes wide with excitement.
She turned her attention back and saw another black shape gliding on the same trajectory and plopping into the water. Her gaze followed until she found a mound of snow and saw a penguin standing at the top. It held out its wings proudly, like an Olympic diver about to perform. Then like the other two before it, the bird ran and jumped off the peak, diving onto the ice and sliding across it before landing in the water with a splash.
“Oh wow, that’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen,” Sophia said, wanting to clap at the awesome performance the little birds were giving them, whether they meant to or not. Sophia and Lunis were happy to witness such a fun sight. It took Sophia’s mind off the fact she was freezing her tail off, even with the fur-lined cloak she’d summoned.
Another penguin took the spot on the top of the peak. It unfolded its wings and did a sort of salute. Sophia and Lunis watched as it lifted its chest proudly, about to take off. It looked at them with brightness in its eyes as if it was looking forward to impressing them, and then the ground under their feet began to shake.
The penguin’s expression changed. Fear filled its eyes, and it dove back in the opposite direction, disappearing. Sophia looked to Lunis, wondering if he’d seen something she hadn’t. His expression was confused.
A moment later, their questions were answered when a giant abominable snowman rose up from behind the peak. Its long arms reached toward the sky as a ferocious roar ripped from its mouth and shook the ice under their feet.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The monster was easily the height of a two-story house and as wide too, especially with its arms extended. Long white fur covered the creature’s body. A gray beard hung from its chin, and its eyes were bright blue surrounded by red veins like it had an extra-long night of partying. The abominable snowman would have been beautiful if it hadn’t had a murderous expression on its face.
Again the monster opened its mouth and roared, its sharp canines reminding Sophia of a deranged werewolf.
“Um, I think we are going to have to fight that thing,” Sophia said beside Lunis, her hands tight around her sword.
Well, I wasn’t about to make it a friendship bracelet, her dragon replied.
“What should be our strategy?” she asked, bracing herself as the beast threw its fist onto the peak where the penguins had been jumping off and smashing it into snowy bits. The ground rumbled, making Sophia’s teeth clatter together.
Apparently, behind the peak was where many of the penguins were hiding. A dozen of the little birds scattered, waddling for other snowbanks or the water’s edge. The angry monster grabbed up one of the penguins. It screamed in terror, its little feet kicked on the other side of the beast’s hand, and its head bulged from the pressure of being held so tightly.
“You have to rescue the penguins,” Sophia urged to Lunis.
What? he questioned. They are the perfect distraction. I say we use it to get away and follow Mae Ling’s directions. Didn’t you say something about a staircase?
“No!” Sophia argued. “You have to save that one!” She pointed at the bird who was doing an excellent job of wiggling free but was still partially pinned in the snowman’s hand. The monster opened its mouth, and it’s pink tongue fell out as it brought the penguin up like it was going to pop it into its mouth like a bonbon.
If the monster wasn’t eating the penguin, I would be doing that exact same thing, Lunis reasoned. Those birds make delicious snacks.
“Lunis!” Sophia complained.
If I get that one free, there are a dozen more the snowman will go after. He swept his neck to the side, indicating the birds still scattering in different directions.
The penguins would take refuge behind a snowbank and then scurry in another direction. They obviously weren’t the smartest animals, but that didn’t matter. Sophia wasn’t going to allow them to be murdered on her watch, and she wouldn’t allow Lunis to eat them. They were too cute and had put on a fun show for them.
“You’re going to rescue them all, Lunis.”
Is that a demand, he asked, lowering his head and looking her straight in the eyes. Lunis had once told her that in their lifetime together, she would make three demands of him. So far, she’d already made two. They were like her genie wishes, and she was down to her last one. Although she wanted to save the penguins who were still frantically scurrying around under the abominable snowman’s feet, she wasn’t going to use her last demand on them. Sophia realized the penguins were trying to attack the monster to free their friend, who was moments away from being eaten.
“Lunis, I’m not making a demand of you. I’m making a request. Those guys are caring enough they are trying to save their friend. They could easily be fleeing, but they aren’t. Creatures like that are worth saving.”
He sighed. Fine. I’ll save the dumb bird. But you should take the opportunity to kill that monster.
Sophia tightened her hand around Inexorabilis, the heat of the battle about to ensue rising in her eyes.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Lunis took off and flew in a spiral around the snowman, confusing it. Even as big as Lunis was, the monster was still sizable in comparison. Sophia wished the moon was full so he could do his 747 trick and triple his size.
The monster, who Sophia nicknamed Gilbert, swiped through the air with its fist to try to knock Lunis out. He slid out of the trajectory of the monster’s hand just in time.
Gilbert, really, Lunis questioned. Why Gilbert?
Sophia ran for the monster as she tried to figure out the best way to attack. She also had to be careful not to run over penguins who were still scurrying around the beast’s feet.
He looks like a Gilbert to me, she said, pushing a penguin out of the way just as the snowman lifted its giant leg and slammed its foot down, sending snow exploding all over. Sophia felt like she was in a bizarre snow globe as her vision was momentarily obstructed.
She brought her sword across, expecting to meet the dense flesh and bone of the monster’s leg. Instead, the sword went through smoothly as if she was slicing throug
h snow.
More snow exploded as the bottom part of the beast’s leg disappeared. The creature fell to the side, suddenly off-balance.
I don’t think he looks like a Gilbert, Lunis disagreed as the monster dropped the penguin from its grasp, to catch itself before it fell on its face.
The dragon dove and caught the penguin before it landed on the ice, a fall that would have been fatal. The bird landed on Lunis’ wing and bounced before finding its feet with a surprised expression.
Around Sophia, the penguins jumped and yelped in relief.
Gilbert fell on all fours, several penguins pinned underneath. Sophia brought her sword up with both hands and stabbed the monster in the other leg. The bottom part of the leg exploded into snow that rocketed up into the air and sprinkled down to cover Sophia’s head and shoulders.
Shaking her head free of the snow, she had a new confidence, as she thought it would be rather easy to kill the beast if each attack made the body turn into snow.
Watch out, Lunis yelled in Sophia’s head.
Gilbert’s large hand swung through the air, rocketing in Sophia’s direction faster than she could react. It knocked straight into her like a wall of ice and swept her feet out from under her. Sending her through the air, she landed hard on her back a dozen yards away.
She couldn’t breathe for a moment, her lungs freezing as she swallowed a handful of snow. She pushed up to her feet quickly and rolled to the side as another hand zoomed in her direction. Even without feet, the monster had plenty of mobility as it crawled toward her. Its long arms reached out and nearly connected with Sophia.
She sprinted for freedom and saw Lunis busy rescuing penguins who were close to being crushed under Gilbert. He now had a few of the birds on his wings as he swooped through the air, avoiding the monster’s claws.
Use your fire, Sophia yelled mentally as she discovered she’d dropped her sword. Finding it in the snow seemed unlikely to happen in a timely manner.